Special Resources for Canada & Bermuda

While there are featured songs from around the world in the Spotlight on Music lessons, it is clear that “home” is the United States of America. Therefore, Canadian and Bermudian teachers who plan to use the curriculum will no doubt wish to substitute music in those particular lessons with music unique to their own countries.

While the local teachers no doubt have a broad knowledge of the music where they live and work, this document contains some ideas for songs that may be used.

CANADA

O Canada! – This is the National Anthem of Canada. It can be found in English or French on the internet. Download print music

God Save the Queen – The official Royal Anthem is to be played during formal ceremonies involving national royalty or vice-royalty. It has been sung in Canada since the late 1700s.

The Maple Leaf Forever – This song was written and published in 1867 before Canada had taken any territory where there were not maple trees. Alexander Muir was the principal of an elementary school in Toronto, Ontario. Download print music

Mama Lisa’s World, a site featuring international music and culture has a Canada section. A few of the traditional songs listed are:

Alouette gentile alouette (French)

Farewell to Nova Scotia

Huron Carol

Bluebells, Cockleshells

Bonhomme, bonhomme (very old song!)

Boom, Boom, Ain’t it great to be crazy

Donkey Riding (A sea shanty originally sung by sailors from Canada, sung while hauling and stowing cargo on a ship; the “donkey” was a steam donkey engine used to load timber.)

Frere Jacques (French, English)

Going Over the Sea

I’s the B’y

Land of the Silver Birch

My Paddle’s Keen and Bright

On the Mountain Stands a Lady

Another excellent website is Songs for Teaching: Using Music to Promote Learning. At this site, Michael Mitchell’s Big Canadian Music Book is available for download for a reasonable price. Strangely enough, the location of this organization is in Chandler, Arizona USA!

Resulting from a contest for music submissions in honor of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, CBCNews features a group of original songs that can be watched on YouTube. Many of the groups feature school elementary, junior or senior high age school groups. The following links will take you to some of the submissions, with the winners' links first: